From V3 to 4: Why ITIL's Naming Convention Matters
Deepak Yadav
ITSM & Service Integration Manager at Hexaware | Driving Operational Excellence | Pursuing MBA Tech at IIT Jodhpur
Dear Readers,
If you are familiar with the ITIL framework, you may have noticed that the latest version of ITIL is often referred to as "ITIL 4" rather than "ITIL V4." This can be confusing for some people, especially if they are used to the previous naming convention of "V3."
The reason why the latest version of ITIL is called "ITIL 4" instead of "ITIL V4" is quite simple. The creators of the ITIL framework decided to change the naming convention in order to better reflect the changes and improvements made in this latest version.
While it may seem like a small change, the decision to switch from using "V" to using a number like "4" actually represents a major shift in how ITIL is structured and organized.
First of all, it's important to understand that ITIL 4 is not just an incremental update to the previous version of ITIL. Instead, it represents a significant change in approach and methodology. ITIL 4 introduces a holistic approach to service management that considers all aspects of an organization's IT services, including people, processes, and technology.
This new approach is reflected in the structure of ITIL 4 itself. Rather than organizing information around specific processes or functions (as was done in previous versions), ITIL 4 is organized around what is known as the "service value system" (SVS). The SVS takes a broader view of IT service management, considering how different functions and processes work together to deliver value to customers.
Given the significant changes introduced in ITIL 4, it makes sense that the creators of the framework would want to distinguish it from previous versions. By using a number like "4" instead of "V4," they are making it clear that this is a new and improved version of ITIL that requires a fresh approach and new ways of thinking about service management.
领英推è
Of course, it's worth noting that some people may still refer to ITIL 4 as "ITIL V4" out of habit or for convenience. While this isn't technically correct, it's important to remember that the naming convention is less important than the concepts and ideas behind ITIL itself.
Regardless of what you call it, the most important thing is to understand the key principles and best practices outlined in ITIL 4. By doing so, you can better manage your organization's IT services and deliver more value to your customers.
Thank you for reading, and we hope this explanation clears up any confusion you may have had about the naming convention used for ITIL 4.
Best regards,
Forget about ITIL or COBIT until you've learned to think the USM way. Reduce your organization's complexity for a sustainable Enterprise Service Management strategy. USM's revolution is ESM's evolution.
1 å¹´ITIL v3 was also a #significant shift from ITIL v2, and V2 was a #significant shift from v1. ITIL 4 still has the same blind eye for the concept of process, mistaking practices for processes. Whether it is called '4' or 'v4' doesn't change that in any way :-). As a consequence, most of the value that can be found in ITIL is not used to its full potential. Perhaps you can provide some hard evidence instead of repeating the familiar ITIL marketing slogans?